[jackbill]

Kerry apparently served a six month tour on a frigate (Gridley?) which was part of a carrier task force.

He came home and then went back. He volunteered for Swift boats, which were cruising the coast of Viet Nam - fairly safe. A couple of weeks after joining the Swifts, their mission was changed to patrolling the rivers and delta.

He spent about four months doing this, was slightly wounded three times, found out about a Navy custom of allowing any guy with three Purple Hearts to go home and get the assignment of his choice. Kerry applied and went home.

[The Wizard]

thank you.....I heard Ted S. say they were "bandaid" wounds...he didn't say self inflicted, but......

[syriacus]

He spent about four months doing this, was slightly wounded three times, found out about a Navy custom of allowing any guy with three Purple Hearts to go home and get the assignment of his choice

I'd love to know the chronological order of these events.

[Bronco_Buster_FweetHyagh]

He volunteered for Swift boats, which were cruising the coast of Viet Nam - fairly safe.

Um those boats were some of the most dangerouns assignments in 'nam. You were a sitting duck, open target, going up and down rivers full of snipers. Saying that his assignment was safe is re-writing history.

[raisincane]

My husband was a Grunt in Nam. He said when the swift boats showed up on the rivers, the Grunts made fun of them. The boats were sprarkling clean. The crew wore immaculent uniforms. The Grunts would throw mud at the boats and call the crew all sorts of sissy names. Hope Kerry was on one of those boats.

[fnord]

He spent about four months doing this, was slightly wounded three times, found out about a Navy custom of allowing any guy with three Purple Hearts to go home and get the assignment of his choice. Kerry applied and went home.

I'd bet that he first found out about the Navy custom of sending thrice-wounded sailors home, and then managed to acquire 3 superficial "wounds".